Conveyer apparatus.



W. G. LAWSON.

CONVEYER APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED rnB.1, 1911.

1,021,052. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

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W. G. LAWSON. OONVEYER APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED run, 1911.

Patented Max:215, 1912.

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-. WASHINGTON D C W. G. LAWSON.

OONVBYBR APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1 11111, 1911.

1,021,052. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH CO..WA!M|NO ON, D. C.

WILLIAM C. LAWSON, OF BOANOKE, VIRGINIA.

CONVEYER APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application filed February 1, 1911. Serial No. 606,065.

To all whom; it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. LAWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conveyer Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mechanism for conveying and discharging material of various characters, and one of the primary objects is to provide mechanism that will effect the discharge of the material by the inversion of the conveying members, without imparting any twisting or torsional strains to the members or the elements thereof.

A further and important object is to so construct this inverting mechanism that it will constitute driving means for the conveyer.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of the conveyer apparatus, showing the inverting and righting mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view partially in elevation and partially in section of a portion of the righting drum. Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view therethrough, showing one of the cable grips. Fig. 5 is a plan view of said grip. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through one of the cable guides. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the inverting drum.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, a suitable supporting frame 9 is employed, which carries an upper track 10 composed of spaced rails and a lower return track, the lower track comprising spaced sections 11 and 12.

Rotatably mounted at the ends of the upper and lower tracks, is an inverting drum 13 formed with a hub 14, radiating spokes 15, and a rim 16. The axle or axis of this drum is horizontal, and is shown at 17. The drum, as shown, is provided with a peripheral track section 18 that is suitably alined with the upper rails 10, and is disposed directly above the upwardly curved end of the lower track section 11. Between the rails of the track section 18 is located a cable guide consisting of metal trough sections 19 extending from the cross pieces 20 of one set of spokes to those of the next set. As shown more especially in Fig. 4, these sections have outstanding ears 21 bolted to the cross pieces. Arranged between the adjacent ends of the trough sections 19 and between the coacting spokes 15, are cable grips or clamps shown more especially in Fig. 5, and consisting of coacting jaws 22 pivoted at their outer ends, as shown at 23, and having their inner ends divergently disposed to produce between them a cable socket 24. Said inner ends have their lower portions slidably overlapped, as shown at 25.

coiled spring 26 is arranged beneath the jaws, and has its ends engaged with depending lugs 27 carried by the same. The jaws therefore normally are disposed in the position shown in Fig. 5, but it will be evident that if a cable moves downwardly between them, said cable will cause the aws to-move downwardly and effect their clamping action against the sides thereof, so that said cable will thus be gripped to the drum.

In order to operate the drum, a driving shaft 28 is located at one side of the same,

and receives ower from any suitable source, as by a belt not shown) that operates over the driving pulley 29 fixed to the shaft. Said shaft is provided with spaced gear wheels 30, that engage with gear teeth 31, carried by the peripheral portion of the drum on opposite sides of the track section 18.

Referring now to the lower or return track, there is located between-the sections 11 and 12 thereof, suitable car righting mechanism, indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The conveyer proper consists preferably of an endless cable 40, which extends longitudinally between the rails of the upper track 10 around the inverting drum 1?), where it engages in the trough sections 19 and the clamps 22, thence longitudinally of the lower track sections 11 and 12, and through the righting frame. Suitable guide pulleys 41 are employed for directing and maintaining its proper relation to the various parts of the apparatus. Secured to this cable, at suitable intervals by means of clamps or clips 42, shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, is a series of conveyer members preferably in the form of cars having bodies 43, to the bottoms of which said clips 42 are connected. These cars have transverse axles 44 rigidly secured to the ends of the bodies, and said axles have wheels 45 journaled thereon and running on the various tracks and track sections. Projecting from one of the axles of each car is an arm 46, that preferably carries a roller 47, and as shown in Fig. 3, this roller is adapted to ride upon the curved stationary guide 37 of the righting mechanism.

Briefly described, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: The filled cars 43 move upon the upper track 10 toward the inverting drum, and as they reach said drum, the wheels pass upon the track sections 18 thereof. During this movement, the portion of the cable adjacent to the cars on the drum, engages in the trough sections 19 of the cable guide, and also between the jaws 22 of the clamp. Said jaws are thus gripped upon the clamp, and the power imparted to the drum through the medium of the driving shaft 28 and the gears, is transmitted to the cable, thereby effecting the movement of the same and the movement of the cars. As the cars pass downwardly with the drum, they are brought to inverted position and discharge their loads, the wheels engaging and riding on the lower track sections. As the cable leaves the drum, it will be evident that the jaws 22 are automatically opened due to the springs 26 and thus release said cable. The cars are now in their inverted position, and pass into the righting mechanism where they are again returned to normal position.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a rotatable inverting drum having spaced annular and continuous rails, of rails extending to the upper side of the drum in alinement with the annular rails thereof, rails leading from beneath the drum and also alined wit-h the rails thereof, cars that move along the upper rails on to the rails of the drum, said cars being inverted by the drum and traveling therefrom, after inversion, on the lower rails, means for driving the drum, a cable connected to the cars and passing around the drum, and means for automatically clutching the cable to the drum.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with an endless series of conveyer members, of a cable connecting the same, an inverting drum about which the cable and members pass, spaced annular tracks mounted on the drum on which the members rest during their movement around the drum, means for rotating the drum, and V clamps located bet-ween the tracks and automatically engaging the cable to clamp the same to the drum and thereby transmit movement from the drum to the cable.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with upper and lower tracks, of a rotary conveyer drum located at one end of the tracks and having an endless track thereon, alined with said tracks, a series of conveyer cars having wheels that run upon the tracks, and rest upon the track of the drum, a cable connecting the cars and extending around the drum, and means for clamping the cable to the drum.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

WILLIAM C. LAWSON.

Witnesses CHAS. W. BISHOP, E. W. SPEED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C." 

